„I see," Tsunade said, leaning back with her arms crossed. Scrutinizingly, her gaze examined me. "That explains why you were so defensive over the Hokage. No wonder."
„The daughter of Akaya and Hikari. Very interesting. I'm sure you've already been informed that some of your roots are from Kirigakure as well, haven't you?"
I nodded slowly.
„Genma told me about that."
Tsunade's eyes took on a thoughtful expression.
„Tell me, can you generate Suiton jutsus?"
Surprised, I looked at her and shook my head slightly, having only found out so far that Raiton was my chakra nature... but otherwise, I had no idea what other elements I was proficient in. Or any other, for that matter.
„I guess that means no, then ..." she stated with a slightly disappointed sigh but paused when I began to shake my head.
„So far, I've only practiced with raiton ... or at least tried to develop a new jutsu based on it, as I did with my invisible shield."
„Show it to me!" the blonde demanded, and I looked up, startled.
„When we get back to the village, I want to see it. What it can do and how much it can take." Her eyes lit up with interest.
„A jutsu like that could be very helpful in many situations...but of course you can't just rely on defense," she added with a more serious look, and I nodded.
„I'm already curious to see how you and Naruto will develop like this in the coming years. It was a good decision to become Hokage."
A smile crept onto my lips. It was nice to hear that Tsunade seemed to be getting more and more comfortable with her upcoming task.
We reached Konoha in the early hours of the morning. We had hiked all night, but still, I didn't feel a hint of fatigue. Naruto, on the other hand, was half asleep. The blond Uzumaki had leaned on my shoulder and was being carried by me rather than walking on his own.
I grinned wryly when I noticed how his eyes fell shut almost every second. I would now get him home as quickly as possible. And then off to bed with him. He had definitely earned his sleep.
Jiraya walked diagonally in front of us with a grumpy expression. The right side of the Sannin's face showed a slightly bluish discoloration. Well. Apparently, the blow had hit him harder than expected. When he noticed my look, he snorted briefly and turned his head to the side. Once again, he reminded me of his student with this behavior. But right now, I didn't want to rub it in his face. His mood was much too tense for that. After all, I had ruined his "attractive appearance" for the next few days.
Finally, the huge entrance gate of the village appeared in front of us. Relieved, we sighed in chorus.
„Sleeping...bed...", Naruto murmured softly, and I smiled. Soon he would be able to rest. Just a few more feet.
When we were only a few steps away, two tall figures detached themselves from the shadows of the archway. Genma and Kakashi. Both looked tired, but also relieved about our return. Had they stayed here all night?
„Ahh Jiraya, I see you found Tsunade and ... what happened to your face?" the copy ninja asked in surprise, whereupon the other started to growl angrily.
„Tsunade is that on your head?" Genma blinked over at the blonde, but she raised her hands with a laugh.
„I have to admit, I was pretty pissed when my dear Jiraya went back to his hobby, but watching that little thrashing was amusing too," she grinned wryly.
„Especially since he didn't see her coming..." the Sannin growled and as if on cue, a pair and a half of pairs of eyes focused on me. Kakashi let out an amused chuckle, while Genma only raised his brows.
Immediately, Jiraya moved to the copy ninja's side.
„What are you laughing at? You greenhorn? You're no better yourself if you read my I tell the girl what they're about?"
Kakashi paused and I began to grin as I noticed how the silver-haired man's skin tone was actually getting quite a bit lighter than was probably healthy.
„Ah this icha icha...book, isn't it?"
The men paused and looked at me. Genma's gaze seemed to pierce me. Oh man. Could he ever put aside his eternal protective role. It was getting annoying. Shikamaru was right. Sometimes adults were really exhausting.
„I haven't read it, but the reviews say a lot. For me it's nothing, because I don't think much of love and all that stuff ... . By the way Sensei Jiraya ... with your little research for the books you don't really make yourself popular with the women ... you surely got to feel that."
Suppressing a grin as the white-haired man's complexion changed to a pale pink, I continued. Kakashi, meanwhile, seemed to have regained his composure as his expression seemed inscrutable.
„Take it as a tip from someone who doesn't know anything about love but human nature and try to approach women in a different way. Otherwise, no one will want anything to do with you in the end."
„And this from a child," the white-haired man growled, but didn't really seem angry with me. Tsunade grinned widely and turned to me.
„I think you should take Naruto home Tora so he can rest a little. Because if we stand here a little longer, he'll fall down from sheer fatigue."
Silently, I turned to the Uzumaki, whose head had already found a place on my shoulder. A soft snore escaped from his mouth. Too late. Well, that would work out somehow.
Deftly I took the key from his pocket and unlocked the green door. It was not easy to do everything at the same time, but I was also slowly overcome by fatigue. But I forced myself to stay awake, brought the blond into the room and put him on the bed. A blissful smile spread across his face. Even though he was already asleep, the blond seemed to instinctively sense that he was home.
I smiled and carefully pulled the blanket over his curled up body before leaving the room with quick steps. With a soft squeak, the door closed behind me and I made my way to my apartment, but paused in my movement. Someone was behind me.
„So, it's true that you guys are back. Man, it was really boring without you two."
The fact that, he admitted this for once. Missing Naruto at all. Well...I had always said it, even if Shikamaru always seemed annoyed with the Uzumaki's actions on the outside. Deep down, he was glad to have him.
I turned around. The Nara had shed his usual clothes and was now wearing a thick chunin vest that made him seem a lot more grown up and authoritative, but it was still him. Nothing seemed to have changed, despite the appointment, and for that I was truly glad.
„I'm glad nothing has changed," I said softly, and he grinned wryly.
„What's going to change? I'm like your snoring buddy there, I'll never change."
He moves a bit towards me and only now I realized that he had grown quite a bit in the last few weeks. Until now I had never paid much attention to it. Possibly it was due to his new appearance as a chunin, though.
„Before I forget, Tora. Please appear with Naruto at the gates of Konoha tomorrow morning. I have prepared a drill in which all current genin will participate. Have a good day."
Then he was gone.
I wonder what kind of exercise that would be.
Yawning, I stood at the large gate and waited for the others to arrive. Naruto paced up and down beside me continuously. His eyes were shining with impatience and tension at the same time. With his behavior, he was making me jittery myself. If only he could stop that.
Ten minutes later, everyone had gathered. Altogether there were twelve of us. However, I noticed a few familiar chakras near us as we followed Shikamaru into the forest. The nara's black braid bobbed up and down before my eyes. And I began to wonder what kind of exercise the Nara was planning for us.
When we had pretty much reached the deepest part of the forest, he paused and motioned for us to line up around him.
„So, here's the thing: I spent a long time last night tweaking this exercise, because of all the things a good ninja must be able to do, I think it's important to teach you one thing above all. And that is teamwork," he began, but was interrupted by a flaring Kiba.
„And what good is that going to do us? We get along great in our teams by now, there's nothing left to train."
Shikamaru sighed in annoyance.
„If you'd let me finish for once... You won't be on your old teams, of course, but the ones I've drawn for you. I will be on a team myself, otherwise it wouldn't add up in terms of numbers. "**
What did that mean? He had thrown us together so that we had to work with any two people? Actually, not such a bad idea. On later missions, we would always have to work with shinobi we didn't know, or perhaps didn't get along with so well...
„So. With that settled, I'll read out the teams now: Team 1 is Kiba, Hinata, and me. For team 2, we have Naruto, Neji, and Tora. Team 3 is made up of Ino, Shino, and Tenten. And then the last team 4 will be Choji, Sakura, and Sasuke."
Examining, Shikamaru looked at our shocked faces. Everyone had to process the new mix of teams first. Actually, I was personally quite pleased, although I didn't really know Neji, but that was what this particular training was for.
„Well, then, I will now explain to you the goal of this training."
0
0
** as info:
I have drawn the teams, just like Shikamaru. :)